Pharmacists to prescribe statins?

29th August 2008

The government is set to consider plans to give pharmacists the automatic right to prescribe statins as part of its cardiovascular screening programme.

The proposal has been submitted by the National Pharmacy Association, which wants pharmacists to be able to carry out vascular checks, assess risk and prescribe statins under a new Patient Group Direction. Ministers are set to consider the proposal, although the move has prompted concerns over patient safety and continuity of care from GPs and the Pharmacists' Defence Association.